Birds associated to sections of riparian forests with anthropogenic modifications (Tucumán, Argentina): I. General Characteristics

Abstract

During the year 2008, four sites of anthropically modified riparian forest (campings) on the Salí River, near El Cadillal dam, were visited. The goal of this study was to provide data on bird population structure and composition in this type of ecosystem, in this part of the province subjected to strong anthropic pressure, mainly touristic and recreational. We identified 144 species belonging to 32 families. 11,2 % of the species were associated to aquatic environments. Thraupis sayaca and Zonotrichia capensis were the most abundant species in the area. Results show that this suburban environment has greater species diversity than nearby urban areas and that the dominant species are generalists and widespread. The diversity index (Shannon) shows similar values for the four resorts, the differences between them being observed in the rank-abundance curves and being given in the identity of the species, their abundances and values of the Relative Importance Index. The overall landscape heterogeneity favors the recorded species diversity since urbanization and preserved forest patches coexist in a matrix that includes both industrial and cultivated plots.